Asks govt to revoke Cab decision and NLA resolution on NSDZs
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Says RIIN cut-off date should be Dec 1, 1963
Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has highlighted two core issues–Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZ) and Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) over which it has raised serious concerns.
Media Cell of NTC recalled that the state government had passed the resolution in the assembly on March 24, 2014 for NSDZs under which foothills from Tizit in Mon district to Khelma in Peren district now covering eight districts- Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Niuland, Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Peren but bereft any blueprint or project report.
The proposed NSDZs was preceded by a directive from the chief secretary in 2013 to commissioner & secretary Industries Nagaland to circulate the concept note to all Deputy Commissioners for negotiations with civil societies for identification for potential areas for NSDZ.
According to NTC, the concept note consisted of five clauses and among which was clause (v)which spelt out that in these SDZs the ILP system will be relaxed. NTC also maintained that there were provisions under various clauses of the concept note that would make the earmarked areas for NSDZs without the cover of ILP and the Nagaland Land (Amendment) Act of 1978. NTC said this means the NSDZ will remain beyond the purview of Art 371A to enable “strangers for permanent settlement” in the vast foothill area.
NTC, therefore, asked the government to revoke the Cabinet decision on NSDZs and repeal the Assembly resolution of March 24, 2014 as the earmarked areas for NSDZs would become a buffer zone for subjugating land and gullible population into secondary citizens to the intruders.
NTC raised another concern over RIIN, which was necessitated to implement ILP in Dimapur as per public demand. The government constituted the RIIN on July 10, 2019 to recommend cut-off date to determine indigenous status with effect from December 1, 1963 when Nagaland attained statehood. The Commission on RIIN was constituted on July 28,2019 headed by former chief secretary Banuo Z. Jamir.
Despite the RIIN Commission having submitted the report by end of 2019, the government undertook a U-turn, said NTC. NTC reasserted that as and when RIIN is implemented, the cut off year to determine the indigenous status has to be December 1,1963.
NTC pointed out that after creation of Nagaland as the 16th state of India and in order to identify the indigenous citizens, a notification was issued wherein the cut-off date was “1-12-1963” as per Notification No.AR-8/8/76 dated Kohima April 28,1978 (also referred to in the RIIN Commission report).
NTC pointed out the dichotomy of cut-off date between the 1978 notification as above and later notification by Land Revenue Department No.LR/2-118/76 dated 21/11/1979 wherein it bifurcated Hill Stations from Plan Sector of Nagaland by mentioning that “ whereby a person settled in the state prior to 21st November 1979 are eligible for Indigenous Inhabitant Status”.
NTC asked how could there be two different cut-off date and year for identification of indigenous inhabitant as “1-12-1963” for Hill people and another as “21/11/1979” for Plain Sector?
NTC also pointed out at the error in the RIIN commission recommendation at Para P/58 E.Proof of permanency of residence which was rely on(1)electoral roll from 1963-2019” with a personal declaration of not having been enrolled in any other state”.
Based on the above-mentioned facts, NTC has demanded that enforcement of RIIN be as per the 1978 notification with cut-off year as “1-12-1963” and that the erroneous Proof of Permanency in the RIIN recommendation be deleted including immediate revocation of the subsequent tribal belt notification issued on November 21,1979.
(Full text on p-6)